Bactria was a province of the Persian empire located in modern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
After the defeat of Darius III of Persia, Bactria continued to offer resistance against Alexander the Great, led by Bessus, who had proclaimed himself successor to Darius. Alexander conquered it with great difficulty between 329-327 BCE, largely with the help of local auxiliary forces. During his stay there, Alexander married a Bactrian woman, Roxanne, to aid his effort of controlling the region.
After Alexander's death, Bactria was part of the Seleucid Empire. The many difficulties against which the Seleucid kings had to fight and the attacks of Ptolemy II of Egypt gave Diodotus, satrap of Bactria, the opportunity to declare independence (about 255 BCE) and conquer Sogdiana, founding the Indo-Greek Kingdom.
Definition
Timeline
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Jan 329 BCE - May 327 BCEAlexander conquers Bactria and Sogdiana.
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c. Mar 327 BCEAlexander the Great marries the Bactrian girl Roxanne.
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293 BCEAntiochos is appointed vice-king of the Upper-Satrapies by his father Seleucus I Nicator.
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c. 280 BCEIncursion of northern nomads (Sakas) on Seleucid territories.
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250 BCEFormer satrap Diodotos rebels against Seleucid king Antiochos I, creating the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.
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c. 230 BCEDiodotos II is overthrown by Euthydemos. Beginning of the Euthydemid dynasty.
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208 BCE - 206 BCESiege of Bactra by Antiochos III.
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c. 200 BCE - c. 100 BCEScythians tribes migrate into Bactria, Sogdiana and Arachosia.
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c. 180 BCE - 80 BCEPeriod of Indo-Greek rule in the Gandhara region.
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145 BCEMurder of Eucratides by his son. Weakening of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.
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c. 145 BCEEucratidia is taken by the Sakas.
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c. 139 BCEEucratidia is looted to the ground by the Yuezhei.
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c. 130 BCEThe Yuezhei take control of Bactria.
